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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Look_a_Unicorn" data-source="post: 884944" data-attributes="member: 11886">History Summary, Part 2/2Here is the second part of the history. Once again it's a bit sketchy, but that's because the two posts have to cover nearly 2 years of half-remembered gaming <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Future posts will be much more up to date. I will be happy to answer any questions, and any criticism would be greatly appreciated!The History of the Lords of Brightstone (adventure summary)Battling the Frost Giants, the Undead Menace & The Migration of the Ugarri Having just emerged victorious in the climactic Battle of Marikest, the party feels honour-bound to fulfil the oath pledged to Umgar; to assist the Ugarri people against the Frost Giants that were waging a vicious war against his people.Despite Umgar’s desire for haste, the aftermath of the Orcish attack has led to many pressing issues that needed to be resolved before the journey can begin. Malachi reports to the Council that there may be a pass linking the two halves of the continent and displays the ancient map recovered from the Orcs. After a period of deliberation the Council decrees that Malachi is duty-bound to investigate the possibility of this path through the Dragon Spine Mountains. The Dragon Spine mountain range has split the smaller "barbaric" Northern Onrek (it has only been a few hundred odd years since the now-prosperous frontier settlement of Nharden Keep was colonised by sea travel) from it’s much more developed Southern mother.In accord with the recent prosperity and the importance that Marikest would have as a major trade city, Malachi is also given access to one million gold pieces to build fortifications to protect Marikest and the trade route. Permission was also granted to use a portion of the gold to upgrade Brightstone. Thus plans are laid to begin construction of a great castle facing the monster infested West of Marikest. In addition to being placed in a strategically important area, accommodation would be needed for the several hundred well equipped troops sent to protect the region.Previously, a draw from a Deck of Many Things is known to have resulted in Tara’s Keep being magically created in an area of the Dragon Spine Mountains, near to where the pass is believed to begin. To date all traffic and trade between Northern & Southern Onrek has been by either teleportation, expensive despite the prevalence of magic in the Empire, or ship, which is becoming increasingly dangerous as more and more pirates begin to ply the waters. Thus Malachi posts a notice in the Guilds of Onrek that scouts are needed to investigate the general region for monstrous lairs that might be in a position to threaten Tara’s Keep.Ugman had long been voicing a desire to leave Brightstone and travel to the 5th and final Elven ruin marked on the ancient map recovered from Brightstone. His sentient sword has informed him that it is the most likely location to find the suit of armour that is matched to the sword. Malachi councils the Half-Orc Warrior to await the organisation of a sea-faring expedition, talking of the many advantages in that the travel time to the ruins will be greatly reduced, the dangers along the way will be fewer and it would be possible to transport a greater quantity of recovered wealth and materials. In order to placate the increasing wanderlust of the retired Half-Orc, organisation for such an expedition begins.Thus the group of adventurers: Malachi the Mage-Noble of Onrec, Ahktor the Sorcerer, Chitric the Klackon Monk & Umgar the Ugarri Cleric begin their long journey into the harsh frozen mountains to the West of Marikest. Ugman, unwilling to wait once his old adventuring companions had set out, left on his own quest to locate the armour.The party’s journey is quite perilous, and many monstrous creatures are encountered in the frozen mountains that are the homeland of the Ugarri. All the monsters are safely killed or driven off until, after one particularly ferocious battle, Chitric is torn to pieces in the death throes of a gigantic Polar Worm. Although Malachi is able to teleport home with the insectoid Monk, after he is raised his inner powers brought out via inner tranquillity & self-confidence are shaken, and he bids farewell to the other party members and returns home.In the interim whilst Malachi & Chitric were absent, the other two party members have been awaiting Malachi’s return in the shelter of Ahktor’s extra dimensional Magnificent Mansion. They are quite surprised when, with a tearing sound, a strange creature emerges from empty air and plummets to the ground. Quickly ascertaining that the creature was not going to present an overt threat, the group is unsure what to make of the strange creature, until in perfect Common it introduces itself as Bes. Bes explains that it is a Planar Traveller, and would like assistance to return to it’s home plane if the opportunity presents itself. Knowing little about any Plane other than their own the two decide to await Malachi’s return- who is quite excited at the thought of the knowledge the small creature says it is willing to share. Thus having gained a new companion the party travels on.The party soon approaches the nearest Ugarri outpost, a small town on an easily defensible plateau, named Retheim. Umgar is saddened to see that the outpost has been overrun, most of the town destroyed and now the Frost Giants are re-building an outpost sized more to their liking.Taking note that the forces arrayed against them included some dozen frost giants, many winter wolves & a large number of Ogres and re-animated zombie Ugarri minions, the two magic users realise that, flying and invisible, they should be able to stay out of harm’s range and destroy their enemies with powerful magicks from above.The plan was thrown somewhat out of kilter by the arrival of a white dragon. After a fast-paced aerial battle, the dragon is blasted from the skies & the two magick users resume their attack on their remaining foes, who had taken the opporunity to seek protection in the partially rebuilt Fort. Unaware that foes still remain, Ahktor enters the Fort and is nearly ground into a thin smear for his dangerous oversight. Fleeing back into the skies, the remaining Frost Giants are killed with the assistance of Umgar, Bes and another Ugarri warrior, Teame. Teame had emerged from hiding, having been awaiting a chance to free his kinsmen from the cells of the Fort.The party now decides to travel on to Grondheim, the greatest of the Ugarri strongholds. The travelling is slow as the group now escorts several dozen freed Ugarri but is able to ward off a series of monstrous attackers and safely reach the walls of the immense Stronghold of Grondheim.Taken before the leaders of the Ugarri, a wise group of Elders, the group explain that they have come to render what assistance they can. They are warmly welcomed, and thanked having saved the few remaining Ugarri of Retheim.The Elders are troubled by the news that Retheim had fallen, as it means that the last two remaining strongholds, Grondheim & Morheim, are gradually being encircled by the Frost Giant forces, and the Elders admit that there seems little that can be done to stop the annihilation of their people. The Ugarri and Frost Giants have long been at war, but in recent years the Frost Giants stopped limiting themselves to raids and began successfully attempting to conquer all the ancestral Ugarri lands. To make matters worse they have heard no news from Morheim, the second greatest & only other remaining Ugarri stronghold, in some time. While at Grondheim, Umgar takes the opportunity to pray in the Great Temple to Surtur. During his religious observations, Umgar is granted a vision of a legendary weapon, known as the Tongue of Flame, which may be able to help stave off the Frost Giant attackers. However it is believed that only Surtur himself, on the Plane of Isgard, knows the location of the weapon.To the rest of the group however, of more immediate urgency was the fate of the inhabitants of Morheim, so after a few days recovering from the rigours of the journey, again the group set out. Teame decided to continue accompanying the group, as he thought them to be the best chance at helping his people. Malachi, estimating the time it will take to travel to Morheim, realises that a Greater Council session (of some importance) is to be held at about the time they shall arrive & informs his companions that he will have to leave for a time & would try to contact them again when he got back to Brightstone.Enroute to Morheim, Ahktor hears a telepathic request for help, and separating himself from the party comes across a well-hidden cave, being investigated by a small group of Frost Giants. Inside the cave a young dragon named Ash had re-made her lair. She had been forced to flee her lair deeper in Frost Giant territory as the encroaching army had threatened the safety of her young. After destroying the hunting Frost Giants, Ahktor helps her transport the eggs and young into the treasure hold of Brightstone and in thanks for saving her young, Ash agrees to serve Ahktor.Rejoining the group with his dragon companion in tow, Ahktor explains that the young would be temporarily housed in Brightstone. Malachi is not too pleased to have dragons, even small ones, inhabiting his home but manages to hold his tongue. He did however somewhat regret having made Ahktor a Lord of Brightstone after the Battle of Marikest.Arriving at the outskirts of Morheim, Ash reports that the city appears deserted, and the massive central castle has all it’s windows covered. There is no sign of any Ugarri.Unwilling to simply begin investigating the city directly, the party decide to spend the remainder of the day trying to provoke a response from anything inhabiting the seemingly deserted city.Flying, Malachi and Ahktor begin travelling to each of the boarded over windowsof the castle and smashing open each in turn. Eventually they get a response in the nature of crossbow bolts from a recently smashed open window with additional fire being directed their way from the roof. Simultaneously, a flood of zombified Ugarri emerge from the houses onto the streets. With great gouts of flame Ash incinerates the enemies firing from the Castle’s roof & the group charges headlong into the midst of the clumsy zombies emerging from the houses, smashing them apart with reckless abandon.As night falls the group decides to leave the immense Stronghold alone until the following morning, although it means they will be entering without Malachi, who wishes them well & teleports to Onrek.Malachi: After catching up with a few acquaintances in Onrek, and requesting their help with the etiquette of Council meetings, Malachi spends the evening studying the proposed agenda of the upcoming Council meeting, and notifies the Council Steward of his desire to discuss the issue of the Ugarri, as relates to his charter to investigate a pass between Northern and Southern Onrek.Several items of business of no note to Malachi pass quickly, until the Council closes the session to non-Council members and the important issues begin to be dealt with.First is the unpleasant task of deciding the fate of High Council member Grimnar, a gnome charged with treason and inciting riots. In an overwhelming majority (Malachi abstains) the Council votes to strip Grimnar of title and rank and imprison him (as per the spell).Next is the necessary task of appointing a new High Councillor from the ranks of the Council Members. Several people are nominated, including Malachi (who graciously declines the nomination). Finally, a Draconian by the name of Krolach is chosen. Then nominations for a new Council Member to fill Krolach’s vacancy begin, and Malachi persuades the Council to accept Ahktor (as a recognised Hero of the Battle of Marikest) into their ranks.Next High Councillor Zarek is asked to report on the progress of his charter, a flying warship that he has named the “Arma”. Apparently it has reached the stage where it is ready for testing, and has arranged a demonstration to display its effectiveness tomorrow morning, with any interested Council Members invited to attend.Finally Malachi is called forth to impart to the Council his plans for the expenditure of the money granted & any other related issue. The Council accepts the plans for the distribution of the money, is informed that the groups sent to scout the area of the pass should be returning shortly, and then Malachi explains the plight of the Ugarri. Called upon to explain the relevance of their plight, Malachi explains his proposal that they be allowed to migrate and resettle around the area of the Keep. Malachi is able to make quite a persuasive argument, cantered around the strength of the warrior-race and how their presence would make an ideal “guard-force” for the region. High Councillor Zarek suggests that, rather than sending troops to aid the Ugarri, the warship is used instead. Zarek believes that the Frost Giants would provide an excellent opportunity to allow the Arma’s capabilities to be tested in a non-vital cause.All business concluded the Council session disbands, and the members either depart or linger to discuss events of interest with their fellow Council members.The next day the warship demonstration performs flawlessly, a group of Orcs is set free and allowed to make use of a variety of siege weaponry. The Arma quickly approaches them and blasts them with a barrage of fireballs launched from it’s side turrets. The dents and tears in the hull from the few ballista bolts & catapult stones the manage to strike the Arma quickly close back over. Malachi is quite impressed with the awesome power thus displayed.After concluding other minor business, including the purchase of a high-quality mirror for use in a newly researched ability, Scrying, Malachi returns to Brightstone.Group: The party decides to head into the fortress at daybreak, with Bes scouting ahead & Ash remaining outside the Castle to ensure the party’s exit does not become blocked. The group is able to pass undisturbed through the town proper, and warily enters the main doors to the Stronghold. All is quiet, and appears deserted. Bes, who was scouting ahead of the rest of the party, allows his wariness to drop enough for a lurking vampire to ambush him. Only his innate ability to breathe fire allowed him to break the deadly embrace of the creature. Finding the rooms in the ground and upper stories of the Stronghold deserted, the party decide to head down a corridor bypassed previously that heads down into the depths below Morheim.Entering an area where it appeared the Ugarri had been excavating more rooms, perhaps in case of siege, they discover an Ugarri journal that belonged to one of the miners. Apparently those digging had broken into an underground complex further below that had been undisturbed for centuries, and over time several workers had vanished without trace. Then a large number of hideous creatures had swept out from the underground complex… and here the journal ends.Investigating further, the group comes to a set of massive doors- behind which lay an immense library, thousands upon thousands of ancient tomes carefully placed in shelving that extended 60 feet into the air of the gigantic chamber.As Bes carefully removed many of the tomes and placed them inside his magical backpack, the rest of the group began to search the library’s environs, unable to see very far in front of them due to the maze-like shelving.The first sign of danger came when incorporeal undead emerged from the bookshelves to attack the surprised party members. Soon after, armoured wights, vampiric warriors and Ugarri zombies joined the fray. The battle was desperate, but seemed to be going in the party’s favour as Umgar unleashed massive walls of fire through the library to separate their foes, and destructive magical rays leapt from Ahktor’s hands to incinerate or petrify their enemies. As an unfortunate side-effect, much of the library was soon burning or shattering under the increased weight of stone tomes. That is when two unseen magic users began to assault the party with powerful magicks. Panicked searching through the labryinthine library & choing gas eventually revealed the source of the magicks. Liches.Cut off from the rest of the party by a mass of aggressive tentacles, Ahktor attempted to escape by leaping into his Magnificent Mansion. Soon after, Umgar realised the situation was hopeless and, after grabbing Teame and Bes, Plane Shifted to Isgard.Ahktor: Believing his escape to the mansion was unnoticed, Ahktor was quite shocked when the walls of the Mansion dissolved around him & he was dumped out of the portal into the ruins of the library, surrounded by foes. Discovering his powers were nullified by an anti-magic field there was little the Sorcerer could do to prevent the Draconian Liches from capturing him. Ahktor was then geased by the Liches to travel the lands above, doing all he could to identify potential threats to the newly re-awoken race of undead Draconians, and is told to tell is companions that he had destroyed the Undead menace & removed all items of worth (and was given an assortment of minor items to validate this story). To ensure his cooperation, a cursed silver belt was also attached to him. Through this belt, not only could the Liches see and hear everything Ahktor said, but could also cast spells onto Ahktor at will. The Liches only demonstrated the second ability to the impotent Sorceror.Returning to Ash, Ahktor flies to Onrek and pays the High Priest of Pelor to perform a true resurrection on him in several hours time. Ahktor then teleports back to Brightstone and discovers that Malachi has returned & explains the massive battle in the underground library. Malachi drools slightly as the existence of the library (but not it’s fate) is revealed. Ahktor goes on to explain that he does not know what has become of the rest of the party, but that he had destroyed the Undead menace, etc.After the geas caused him to thus decieve his friend , Ahktor goes to his room, strips off all his items (sans the cursed belt) and disintegrates himself.Malachi: Malachi discovers Ahktor’s items neatly stored in his room and the grey dust covering his bed- fearing the worst he flies to visit Lorren, Marikest’s cleric. Handing over the grey dust and a valuable gem, Malachi beseeches the friendly cleric to raise his friend. Lorren attempts to do so but nothing happens. Lorren informs Malachi that either his friend is not dead, or that more powerful magicks are required.Thus Malachi returns to Brightstone & attempts to scry on his friend, but his mirror remains empty..Teleporting to Onrek he contacts Lorren’s superiors and promises to pay the High Priest handsomely to return his friend. The priest blinks & informs Malachi that he will be attempting to do so in thirty minutes time, as previously instructed. This attempt also fails. (Metagame: The grey dust was insufficient to perform a Raise Dead, and Ahktor was still dead when Malachi attempted to scry on him. The Liches had true resurrected him just before the High Priest had been instructed to do so.)Both the High Priest and Malachi were baffled as to what had happened to Ahktor. The next day Malachi returns to Brightstone and endeavours to scry on his other companions & locates them crossing a foreign Plane. Magically communicating with Umgar, Malachi is informed that they had fled the battle with the Liches and were now seeking the Tongue of Flame. Malachi has no magicks enabling him to join his friends across planar boundaries & says he will do what he can to help the Ugarri people, and will try to contact them regularly..Making use of two days in study before the scheduled arrival of the Arma at Brightstone, Malachi is able to uncover nothing on the fate of his friend Ahktor. In addition all appears to be going well with his other companions’ quest on Isgard. Overcoming many adversaries, they had arrived at the divine adobe of Surtur and been granted an audience, the awe-stricken Umgar was given cryptic directions as to the location of the Sword.When the Arma arrives at Brightstone, Malachi is introduced to Kelmek, the elven captain of the Arma & his Lieutenant Zala. The leader of the guard contingent, Sir Mandrake is reputed to be a mighty warrior and Malachi is very intrigued by a Holy warrior named Ull, an envoy from the Pale Keep.And so the Arma sets out, first stop- Retheim. Frost Giants working to make it an outpost of their own, but this time with a much larger contingent of guards again populated the overrun Ugarri outpost. Their numbers serve them to no avail however, as the Frost Giants are torn apart by the powerful fireballs erupting from the Arma’s turrets. A few Frost Giants taking shelter in the partially reconstructed Fort are killed in melee by Sir Mandrake, William (Mandrake’s squie) & Ull whilst they were supported by Malachi’s magicks, A few Frost Giants are allowed to escape in order to carry word of the powerful warship to the rest of the Frost Giant army.Continuing on to the only remaining Ugarri outpost, Grondheim. The Ugarri have heard no word of the Undead inhabiting Morheim, and thus are grief stricken when Malachi relates what they have found. Wishing to see for himself the great library spoken of by Ahktor, Malachi invites the Council Seer to travel aboard the Arma to Morheim. He then explains to the Ugarri the nature of the help that Onrek is willing to offer the Ugarri people. New lands, far more clement than the icy wasteland they currently inhabit were available around Tara’s Keep. Military assistance in the form of the Arma, to keep at bay the Frost Giant forces. In return however it was required by the Council that they become vassal allies of Onrek & permissive of trade without interference through the region they would inhabit.The Ugarri have their doubts about abandoning their home, but realising that they have little choice if they wish to continue the existence of their people, decide to organise a migration of all those who are willing to leave. However such an expedition would take a number of days to organise, so Malachi decides that in the interim the can quickly visit Morheim in the Arma & then do what they can to prevent the Frost Giant’s interfering with the migration.Visiting Morheim, the place is utterly deserted. The library is a mass of charred or petrified wreckage; only a small number of scraps are saved. The library also has two side rooms, one containing a massive astrolabe, the other what was once an arcane laboratory. Both immense doors to these rooms are inscribed with arcane of engineering lore, as appropriate, and unwilling to leave behind any knowledge that could prove interesting, Malachi orders the massive doors to be removed and taken aboard the Arma.Devastated by the destruction of the eagerly sought-out library, Malachi makes use of powerful magicks granted to him by his Staff of Divining to discover that not only as there ANOTHER library similar to the one which had been destroyed, but that Bes had taken a portion of the now-destroyed library with him.Travelling deeper into Frost Giant territory, several patrols are encountered and destroyed, any survivors giving directions to the location of their main city. This city is then approached & it is discovered that it is in fact a massive cave complex- virtually immune to bombardment from the warship.Malachi, Sir Mandrake, William and Ull are set down a short distance away & continue on foot towards the cavern complex. Enroute a group of Frost Giant warriors confront the party, but are dissuaded from attacking the party possibly from fear of the massive ship hovering nearby. Malachi successfully persuades the Frost Giant patrol leader to take them into the city in order to arrange an audience with the Frost Giant King, who is referred to in a deific fashion by the Frost Giant troops.Despite the fear of treachery from the Frost Giants, the party allows themselves to be led deep into the cavernous complex, and eventually to a reception with the Frost Giant King.Malachi attempts to convince the Ugarri King that he need not lose anymore of his army to the might of the Arma, if he just allows the Ugarri to leave peacefully. The King is tempted to agree to a temporary armistice, however knowing he cannot be seen as weak by his people, informs the group that before he can agree to such a deal the party must prove their might by defeating a powerful creature.Wondering what they are getting themselves into, the party agrees & are given permission to rest and prepare for the coming battle. The next morning they are led to a giant arena, on the opposite side of which are a pair of immense doors looking as though they weighed at least several tons. And then these giant doors are slammed open by a mere gesture from an immense creature that was half-Frost Giant, half Dragon. And the party was a tad concerned that they may have bitten off more than they could chew….However, well protected and enhanced by the magicks of Malachi, Ull, Mandrake and William fearlessly attack the monstrous creature and eventually it topples to the ground, bleeding from dozen of mighty wounds. The party is little better off, but still, victory was theirs & the King agreed to stop pressing into the Ugarri lands for one month, at which point they will be free for the taking.Returning to Grondheim, the Ugarri are able to complete their preparations and in a matter of days set out in a giant train of…. Giants. Protected from danger by the ever-vigilant Arma, the Ugarri begin the first stage of their journey: to Marikest, where additional supplies are being prepared for them.Umgar, Teame and Bes: After several successful combats on the plane of Isgard, an audience with Surtur himself, the assurance that Malachi is meeting with some success as the Arma rains death on the Frost Giants & after having gained a new companion, an elven Druid named Lia Nailo, the small group is beginning to feel that they may also be successful in their dangerous quest.Their hopes become dashed as, with a piercing scream, the group is bombarded with harsh lances of sonic energy from above. Ythraks with riders begin an attack against the ill prepared party. Unable to do much as their foes circled overhead, out of the range of the party’s ability to strike back, Bes flees the battle, his fate unknown. As their erstwhile companion departs Umgar realises this is a battle they cannot win, grabs Teame & Lia and prepares to escape the only way available, via plane-shifting back to their home plane.However the inaccuracy of such magicks results in disaster, they arrive high in the air of their home plane, and all they can see around them is ocean. (Metagame: Onrek is a relatively small continent & Umgar missed his target of Brightstone by a considerable margin.)</blockquote>

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